Why lead violations are urgent
HPD classifies lead-based paint violations as Class C, immediately hazardous. HPD's timeline gives owners 21 days from service to correct Class C conditions before civil penalties can apply if they are sought in Housing Court. The correction and certification dates are printed on each Notice of Violation, so read it carefully the day it arrives.
Step 1: Read the violation
Each notice lists the apartment, the room and the surfaces cited, along with an order number. Orders 616 and 617 relate to correcting lead-based paint hazards. Other order numbers relate to records, notices and investigations. Send us a copy and we will tell you exactly what work and paperwork it requires.
Step 2: Do the work with lead-safe practices
The cited surfaces must be corrected by trained, certified workers using lead-safe work practices. That means:
- setting up containment and protecting floors and belongings;
- using wet methods and HEPA vacuums instead of dry sanding or open-flame burning;
- correcting the cause, such as friction on windows and doors, not just repainting over it;
- cleaning thoroughly with HEPA vacuuming and wet wiping when the work is done.
Step 3: Clearance dust wipe testing
After cleanup, dust wipe samples are collected from floors and window sills and sent to an accredited laboratory. The results must be below the clearance standards before the area is considered safe and the work is considered complete. Clearance must be performed by someone independent of the contractor that did the work.
Step 4: Certify the correction to HPD
The owner certifies the correction to HPD by the date on the notice. Lead-based paint certifications cannot be filed through HPD's eCertification system; they are submitted on paper with supporting documentation. A false certification leaves the violation open and exposes the owner to penalties, so the work and paperwork need to match.
Our violation guarantee
If an HPD lead-based paint violation is not removed because of a deficiency in our work, we return and complete the corrective work, including re-cleaning and clearance dust wipe testing, at no additional charge.